Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Force Gratuity Payment.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

16 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the reason members of the Defence Forces who complete their terms of engagement and who take up employment within the public sector are not entitled to a gratuity, and are therefore no better off than a member who buys out of the Defence Forces prior to completion of their terms of engagement and who would not in any event be entitled to a gratuity; and if he will review the regulations concerned with a view to making gratuity payments to members who complete terms of engagement irrespective of subsequent employment.

The Taoiseach

Any member of the Permanent Defence Force who is discharged on termination of his engagement is eligible for a gratuity under the Defence Forces (Pensions) schemes.

Under the transfer of service scheme applicable to the public service, a person changing employment from one State organisation to another may have his or her pensionable service with the first organisation reckoned for superannuation purposes by the second. This scheme was introduced so as to benefit employees by allowing mobility of service within participating State organisations.

An underlying principle of the scheme is that service cannot be reckoned twice for superannuation purposes. Accordingly, if a member of the Defence Forces opts to have his or her Army service reckoned for superannuation purposes by another public sector organisation, he or she foregoes payment of any gratuity payable in respect of that service.